Militarized police on Sunday night attacked unarmed water protectors opposing the Dakota Access pipeline. They used concussion grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons in subfreezing temperatures. The attack injured dozens and threatened the lives of American Indians and their allies -- most of whom are camping without electric heat -- by purposefully subjecting them to conditions that cause hypothermia.

Our Executive Director Kierán Suckling's response: "This affront to human rights, indigenous cultures and our environment must stop now. We call again on President Obama to step in, immediately cease all violence and police actions against the water protectors, and stop all pipeline construction. The Dakota Access pipeline is a federally permitted action over which the president has full authority. He must take responsibility today to end the violence and halt this dangerous pipeline before it's too late."

Gathered in Morocco earlier this month for the annual U.N. climate change conference, 47 nations pledged to use only renewable energy by 2050, underscoring the world's powerful determination to move away from fossil fuels -- even after the jolt of climate denier Donald Trump's election.

The Center for Biological Diversity spearheaded two panel discussions at the conference, exploring the growing global movement to end fossil fuel extraction and usher in a zero-carbon pollution future. On every continent except Antarctica, communities are organizing to demand that keeping fossil fuels in the ground be central in the Paris climate agreement.

"The shock of the U.S. elections has ignited a fiery determination to combat Trump's regressive rhetoric on climate," said Center conference attendee Clare Lakewood. "The world is more determined than ever to fight for climate justice."

Offshore fracking along California’s coast poses threats to the marine environment, public health, imperiled wildlife and sacred Chumash cultural resources and places -- so the Center and allies last week sued U.S. officials for approving fracking in federal waters off California without adequate risk assessment.

"Federal officials' failure to carefully study offshore fracking's numerous risks is doubly disturbing after Trump's election," said Kristen Monsell, a Center attorney. "Every offshore frack increases the risk of poisoning our ocean, and that danger could now spread. President Obama has the authority to prevent further oil and gas leasing in these precious waters, and must do so."

National monument designations by presidents have protected many iconic places, some of which later became national parks (including Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion). But last week Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) falsely claimed the Trump administration can legally rescind these historic presidential land protections. He said he'd like to see Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, designated by President Clinton, dissolved.

"In Rob Bishop's world, lands owned by all Americans should be taken over by those who see them as nothing but a source of profit," said the Center's Randi Spivak. "Fortunately there are laws protecting places like national monuments -- Rep. Bishop either doesn't understand or doesn't respect them."

Congress gave presidents authority to designate national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906 -- which doesn't authorize revocation.

With Trump's energy policy guaranteeing a rapid expansion of the fossil fuel industry, we must speak up to protect the Gulf of Mexico's whales and dolphins from being hurt by underwater seismic surveys, which use high-powered airguns to find oil and gas. The blasts can permanently deafen marine mammals -- and a deaf whale is a dead whale.

In an astonishing show of climate denial, the U.S. Forest Service is redoing Colorado's Roadless Rule to allow coal mining across 20,000 acres of pristine country in western Colorado. Tens of thousands of people have urged the Obama administration to abandon the plan -- which would lead to 172 million tons of coal mined over 17 years and at least 443 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

"Opening pristine backcountry to coal mining in the face of a global climate crisis is dangerously backward," said the Center's Taylor McKinnon. "Instead of setting the table for Trump's dirty energy agenda, Obama should nix this plan on his way out the door."

Calling all iPhone users: We've just launched an updated version of our "Wild Calls" app for your phone or tablet. It includes endangered species ringtones, action alerts, press releases, online newsletters, and a "species finder" that allows you to see which endangered animals and plants are in your area.

And if you have an Android phone, don't despair: We have an app for that too!

Every spring and summer, millions of cliff swallows migrate north through North America to nest. Males arrive first to find or build mud nests on vertical cliffs or under highway overpasses and the eaves of buildings. Females follow shortly after to pick a suitable mate and continue the construction process, which entails collecting and placing thousands of mud balls in a gourd-like shape with a small opening.